IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 245 

Recognizing the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, calling 

for the release of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, and for other reasons. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2013 

Mr. BENTIVOLIO submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square 

massacre, calling for the release of Dr. Wang Bingzhang, 

and for other reasons. 

Whereas the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association are fundamental human rights and are recognized as 

such under the United Nations Declaration of Human 

Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 

Whereas the protests in Tiananmen Square were the result 

of the peaceful democratic movement throughout China 

and were calling for open dialogue with the Government 

of the People’s Republic of China and its leaders regarding democratic reform; 


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•HRES 245 IH 

Whereas the People’s Liberation Army and other security 

forces used lethal force to disperse demonstrations in 

Beijing on June 3, 1989, and June 4, 1989; 

Whereas the People’s Liberation Army and other security 

forces wounded and killed thousands of innocent people; 

Whereas thousands of people throughout China who were 

suspected of taking part in the democracy movement 

were arrested and sentenced without trial; 

Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China 

has become increasingly sophisticated in its persecution 

of religious groups, human rights and democracy advocates, and ethnic minorities; 

Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China 

kidnapped Dr. Wang Bingzhang, a United States permanent resident and one of the founders of the Chinese democracy movement, and sentenced him to life in prison 

on charges of espionage and terrorism in a closed trial, 

and whose detention was declared arbitrary by the 

United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; 

Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China 

continues to— 

(1) take active measures to deny citizens information 

regarding the Tiananmen Square massacre, and continues to suppress access to information about the event 

on the Internet; 

(2) harass, detain, or imprison members of the Chinese democracy movement and other advocates for democratic reform, human rights, and religious freedom; 

(3) oppress and persecute the peaceful, spiritual 

movement of Falun Gong and its leaders and practitioners; and 


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•HRES 245 IH 

(4) restrict and censor free speech on the Internet; 

and 

Whereas June 4, 2013, is the 24th anniversary of the 

Tiananmen Square massacre: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses sympathy and condolences to the 

3 families of the victims who were killed, wounded, 

4 tortured, or imprisoned resulting from their partici5 pation in the demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, 

6 Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China on June 

7 3, 1989, and June 4, 1989, and to the families of 

8 those who continue to face persecution, torture, or 

9 imprisonment as a result of their involvement with 

10 those demonstrations; 

11 (2) commends and honors the advocates who 

12 continue to struggle for democracy and human 

13 rights in China, despite the harsh consequences they 

14 face; 

15 (3) condemns the continued persecution and op16 pression of peaceful religious minorities, such as 

17 Buddhists, the Uyghur people, Falun Gong practi18 tioners, and other spiritual movements; 

19 (4) condemns the ongoing human rights abuses 

20 and persecution by the Government of the People’s 

21 Republic of China and its efforts to quell political 

22 dissent and oppress religious minorities; and 


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•HRES 245 IH 

1 (5) calls on the Government of the People’s Re2 public of China to— 

3 (A) end the harassment, detention, torture, 

4 and imprisonment of Chinese citizens express5 ing their legitimate freedom of religion, expres6 sion, and association; 

7 (B) release the remaining prisoners of con8 science who continue to be detained as a result 

9 of their participation in the peaceful pro-democ10 racy demonstrations in 1989, especially around 

11 Tiananmen Square; 

12 (C) end the targeted persecution and op13 pression of the Uyghur community, particularly 

14 the suppression of their religious faith; 

15 (D) end the persecution of Falun Gong 

16 practitioners by the Government of the People’s 

17 Republic of China and Chinese authorities; and 

18 (E) release United States permanent resi19 dent Dr. Wang Bingzhang, a long-time peaceful 

20 democracy activist, who was sentenced to life in 

21 prison on charges of terrorism and espionage, 

22 whose daughter, son, and sister are United 

23 States citizens. 

Æ 


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